“During war there are no civilians,” that’s what “Yossi,” an Israeli military (IDF) training unit leader simply stated during a round of questioning on day two of the Rachel Corrie trials, held in Haifa’s District Court earlier this week. “When you write a [protocol] manual, that manual is for war,” he added.

For the human rights activists and friends and family of Rachel Corrie sitting in the courtroom, this open admission of an Israeli policy of indiscrimination towards civilians — Palestinian or foreign — created an audible gasp.

Yet, put into context, this policy comes as no surprise. The Israeli military’s track record of insouciance towards the killings of Palestinians, from the 1948 massacre of Deir Yassin in Jerusalem to the 2008-2009 attacks on Gaza that killed upwards of 1400 men, women and children, has illustrated that not only is this an entrenched operational framework but rarely has it been challenged until recently.

Rachel Corrie, the young American peace activist from Olympia, Washington, was crushed to death by a Caterpillar D9-R bulldozer, as she and other members of the nonviolent International Solidarity Movement attempted to protect a Palestinian home from imminent demolition on March 16, 2003 in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Corrie has since become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity as her family continues to fight for justice in her name.

Her parents, Cindy and Craig Corrie, filed a civil lawsuit against the State of Israel for Rachel’s unlawful killing — what they allege was an intentional act — and this round of testimonies called by the State’s defense team follows the Corries’ witness testimonies last March. The Corries’ lawsuit charges the State with recklessness and a failure to take appropriate measures to protect human life, actions that violate both Israeli and international laws.

Witnesses insisted that the bulldozer driver couldn’t see Rachel Corrie from his perch. The State attorneys called three witnesses to the stand on Sunday and Monday to prove that the killing was unintentional and took place in an area designated as a “closed military zone.” Falling under the definition of an Act of War, their argument sought to absolve the soldiers of liability under Israeli law.

It’s obvious Al Qaeda feels it’s okay to murder “civilians,” and I understand Obama has claimed that same right. Are the New Dark Ages here yet? Have corporations replaced democracy with feudalism? Can we stop pretending our so-called “civilization” is anything more than a facade of big words and shiny machines now and get down to slaughtering the weak by the millions like Charles Manson says?

This article isn’t even about “Islamic radicals”. There are no coalition troops in Israel or Palestine.

Typical, the “Voice of the Penis” goes off in his sleep….

Anonymous

Israel is a fascist state. I believe any reasonable and humanitarian oriented Jews should dis-associciate from this political monster or suffer the effects of extreme hypocrisy. Did we learn nothing from the holocaust?

GoodDoktorBad

Israel is a fascist state. I believe any reasonable and humanitarian oriented Jews should dis-associciate from this political monster or suffer the effects of extreme hypocrisy. Did we learn nothing from the holocaust?

Yalor

So tell me: how many buses did the Jews of Europe blow up, killing innocent Europeans? How many Jews went into restaurants with explosives tied to themselves, and detonated them in a crowd? How many German soldiers did the Jews butcher and throw out of a second-floor window?

You know nothing. There is zero basis for comparison between Israel and fascist Germany. What is that saying, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool, then to speak and have there be no doubt.”

GoodDoktorBad

Israel and Jews are not one in the same. I speak of the political state of Israel, not Jews in general..
I have no malice for you or Jews , nor am I sympathetic to Nazis now or ever.

Zero basis? Well, believe what you like……..I will.

Synapse

Israel is a fascist state… Why exactly? What is with this Islamo-fascim love? Given the context of the fight Israel is involved in, there are no civilians. The Palestinian/Hamas establishment is training people from a young age to kill all Israelis, civilians or not has never mattered to them, why should not the same standard be applied to a people that have weaponized women and children? Hate Israel? Do your best to kill Jews (Not Israelis only) here or abroad, then cry foul when an Israel kills a weaponized civilian. This is a double standard and we’re falling for their tactic.

splam

if an army sends a chopper down your street indiscriminately mowing down women and children what would you do?
what if someone pulled up to your house in a bulldozer and tells you its not your house any more?
what if one of those killed was a family member? a son, a daughter, your mother. what would you do?. what if all of them died? how would you react?
i don’t defend the palestinian tactics either, but some things israel has brought upon itself

gemmarama

…spunking out hatred and bile, 24 hours a day.

Muckraker

I think this post is final proof: there are no good Germans.

Muckraker

I think this post is final proof: there are no good Germans.

Banjul

Rachel Corrie got what she deserved. No sympathy whatsoever.

Banjul

Rachel Corrie got what she deserved. No sympathy whatsoever.

Iase08

How can you have sympathy? You’re not related to the human being Rachel Corrie was and still is. Her spirit lives on to shame those who would besmirch her like you.
She gave her life for what she believed in, peacefully. That must really drive a coward like you insane! You must be a self hating Semite since Palestinians and Arabs in general are Semites too. Or don’t they matter?

APR

Wrong. Banjul IS related. So are you and I. We ALL come from this same ball of rock and dirt. There will be wars until we all realize this.

Humans are, for the most part, still living in the stone age.

APR

Did the Jews “get what they deserved” in Europe last century? When will this cycle of racist hatred end? As long as there are people who think they are superior, the “chosen people” and so forth, there will be war. If I call myself “white” or “black” or whatever, I am saying I am a better human. All others are less and can be exterminated.

We are all descended from the 2,000 survivors of a planet-wide disaster 27,000 years ago. Geneticists tell us this. Like it or not, you are related to Rachel Corrie. The IDF members killed their sister. We are all related. Get used to it.

Religion is racism. Race identity is racism.

Michael3ov

You are truly a sick individual. She stood up peacefully for the rights of people and she stayed true abd died for those people. It doesn’t get any braver than that. She should be admired and praised, there are too few who stand up for justice the way she did. The miserable hate filled life that you lead is exactly what you deserve.

Yalor

So tell me: how many buses did the Jews of Europe blow up, killing innocent Europeans? How many Jews went into restaurants with explosives tied to themselves, and detonated them in a crowd? How many German soldiers did the Jews butcher and throw out of a second-floor window?

You know nothing. There is zero basis for comparison between Israel and fascist Germany. What is that saying, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool, then to speak and have there be no doubt.”

Anonymous

Israel and Jews are not one in the same. I speak of the political state of Israel, not Jews in general..
I have no malice for you or Jews , nor am I sympathetic to Nazis now or ever.

Zero basis? Well, believe what you like……..I will.

Anonymous

Thanks and have a nice day…..

Iase

You are a reactionary idiot, tobi.( Is that ur slave name?) It must suck being you, an apologist for much more sophisticated murderers than the poor and desperate ppl whose land was stolen by no fault of their own. What do you think drives ppl to the point of wanting to kill you along with themselves? You and so many otherwise “normal” jewish ppl can never accept responsibility for the sociopathic acts of the state you so wantonly try to defend. Face it, you kill and steal and then blame the victims when they feebly try to lash out at their attackers. Remember the Liberty? Probably not part of your Israel is never wrong and always the victim” indoctrination. Sleep well, fool

Iase08

You obviously are too classy to respond in kind. Kudos, but animals who project their animosity onto others deserve no such polity. Stand up for your thoughts. You are no anti-semite, you simply refer to the actions of a criminal state that is using the US as muscle while holding more nuclear warheads than anyone else in the region. I hope the chosen are not choosing to start WWIII.

Iase08

How can you have sympathy? You’re not related to the human being Rachel Corrie was and still is. Her spirit lives on to shame those who would besmirch her like you.
She gave her life for what she believed in, peacefully. That must really drive a coward like you insane! You must be a self hating Semite since Palestinians and Arabs in general are Semites too. Or don’t they matter?

APR

Every soldier has a family. Those are his ultimate support, not the military. In the old days an invading army kills everyone they can. This is why modern warfare, as practiced by the Americans, is an utter failure. You cannot win “hearts and minds” if you have killed their fathers, brothers and sons.

The Israelis merely use their playbook when it comes to war:

“Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
(1 Samuel 15:3)

The object of war is to kill everyone that disagrees with you. When will people realize this?

APR

Every soldier has a family. Those are his ultimate support, not the military. In the old days an invading army kills everyone they can. This is why modern warfare, as practiced by the Americans, is an utter failure. You cannot win “hearts and minds” if you have killed their fathers, brothers and sons.

The Israelis merely use their playbook when it comes to war:

“Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
(1 Samuel 15:3)

The object of war is to kill everyone that disagrees with you. When will people realize this?

APR

It doesn’t help that the “two sides” use similar texts (although Islam currently wins the hate / body count):

“Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.” Qur’an (2:216)

“Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’” Ibn Ishaq: (327)

‘Allah’s Apostle said, “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.” ‘
Bukhari (52:177)

When will the reign of Judeochristoislamunism end? Certainly not in out lifetimes, unless the “aliens” land and tell us all it is B.S.

GoodDoktorBad

It will probably end in fire like long fortold in all the big three religions. Each version promises the chosen faithful will be victorious and glory will reign etc. But how can all three win? If all three won their own version of holy war -all three would be destroyed in the process. So only one -or none can be true -right?

Its a bloody wacky world indeed….

APR

Did the Jews “get what they deserved” in Europe last century? When will this cycle of racist hatred end? As long as there are people who think they are superior, the “chosen people” and so forth, there will be war. If I call myself “white” or “black” or whatever, I am saying I am a better human. All others are less and can be exterminated.

We are all descended from the 2,000 survivors of a planet-wide disaster 27,000 years ago. Geneticists tell us this. Like it or not, you are related to Rachel Corrie. The IDF members killed their sister. We are all related. Get used to it.

Religion is racism. Race identity is racism.

APR

Wrong. Banjul IS related. So are you and I. We ALL come from this same ball of rock and dirt. There will be wars until we all realize this.

Humans are, for the most part, still living in the stone age.

APR

It doesn’t help that the “two sides” use similar texts (although Islam currently wins the hate / body count):

“Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.” Qur’an (2:216)

“Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’” Ibn Ishaq: (327)

‘Allah’s Apostle said, “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.” ‘
Bukhari (52:177)

When will the reign of Judeochristoislamunism end? Certainly not in out lifetimes, unless the “aliens” land and tell us all it is B.S.

Synapse

Israel is a fascist state… Why exactly? What is with this Islamo-fascim love? Given the context of the fight Israel is involved in, there are no civilians. The Palestinian/Hamas establishment is training people from a young age to kill all Israelis, civilians or not has never mattered to them, why should not the same standard be applied to a people that have weaponized women and children? Hate Israel? Do your best to kill Jews (Not Israelis only) here or abroad, then cry foul when an Israel kills a weaponized civilian. This is a double standard and we’re falling for their tactic.

Anonymous

It will probably end in fire like long fortold in all the big three religions. Each version promises the chosen faithful will be victorious and glory will reign etc. But how can all three win? If all three won their own version of holy war -all three would be destroyed in the process. So only one -or none can be true -right?

Its a bloody wacky world indeed….

splam

if an army sends a chopper down your street indiscriminately mowing down women and children what would you do?
what if someone pulled up to your house in a bulldozer and tells you its not your house any more?
what if one of those killed was a family member? a son, a daughter, your mother. what would you do?. what if all of them died? how would you react?
i don’t defend the palestinian tactics either, but some things israel has brought upon itself

Michael3ov

You are truly a sick individual. She stood up peacefully for the rights of people and she stayed true abd died for those people. It doesn’t get any braver than that. She should be admired and praised, there are too few who stand up for justice the way she did. The miserable hate filled life that you lead is exactly what you deserve.